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SUGGESTIONS 

FOR 

Organizing and Directing the Work 

OF THE 

^RENT - TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS 

IN THE 

Rural and Village Schools of Oregon 



Published by 
J. A. CHURCHILL 

Superintendent of Public Instruction 



December, 1913. 



Salem, Oregon : 

State Printing Department 

1913 



JAN 27 191^ 



LC aio. 



DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

STATE OF OREGON 



J. A. CHURCHILL 

Superintendent of Public Instruction 

E. F. CARLETON 

Assistant State Superintendent 

FRANK K. WELLES 

Assistant State Superintendent 



SUGGESTIOHS FOR ORGANIZING 



To the Teachers of Oregon: 

For the purpose of uniting more closely 
the home and the school we have encouraged 
everywhere throughout the State the organ- 
ization of the Parent-Teacher Association. 
In this work we have had the loyal co-opera- 
tion of the Oregon Congress of Mothers and 
the Parent-Teacher Associations. 

With the hope that this pamphlet will 
be of assistance in bringing into a closer 
relationship the schools and the homes of 
Oregon, the teachers are asked to study it 
carefully with the view of organizing the 
Parent-Teacher Association in the rural and 
village schools of the State. 

Very truly yours, 

J. A. Churchill, 
Superintendent of Public Instruction. 



PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS 



Parent - Teacher Associations and 
Mothers' Congress 

AIMS AND PURPOSES 

To improve the standard af living in the home, to 
protect the child, and to improve all conditions under 
which children live. To do this in certain definite 
ways through organized efforts along the lines of child 
hygiene, sanitation in home and school, good literature 
for children and parents, legislation for the protection 
of child life, good roads and school improvements, home 
economics, playgrounds, kindergartens, and the close 
co-operation of home and school. 

To help fathers and mothers by giving them high 
ideals of what "home" means, and then helping them 
along definite lines to attain these ends. To give young 
people, ignorant of the proper care and training of 
children, opportunities to learn this, that they may 
better perform the duties of parenthood. 

To help the teacher, to break down the historic 
isolation of the school, to enlarge his opportunities for 
good by making possible a knowledge of the child's 
home environment. 

To help the child — that the ''child may be better 
understood," physically, mentally, morally, and spirit- 
ually. ''Suffer little children to come unto Me and 
forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." 
"And a little child shall lead them." May the open- 
mindedness of the child be the attitude of mothers 
toward all questions. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR ORGANIZING 



FOR SCHOOL PATRONS 

It is hoped that the Parent-Teacher movement will 
be taken up by every school in the State as soon as 
possible. 

Its purpose is to give every parent in the district 
an opportunity to know what the school is endeavoring 
to accomplish, what it might be able to accomplish if 
it were using all its possible resources, and to find 
out what these resources are. 

All that concerns the school and the children indi- 
vidually must be considered as problems for the parent- 
body to solve, together with the teacher. 

The teacher is of first importance — so always secure 
the best man or woman possible. Then ask the ques- 
tions: Is our school sanitary? Has it modern con- 
veniences? Are all the roads and paths leading to it 
in good condition? Are all the children in the district 
able to attend school? Has our school playgrounds, 
and are they being used in the most helpful way ? Are 
we taking advantage of the Free Extension Course 
Lectures offered by the State University and Agricul- 
tural Colleges ? 

Do we mothers take opportunity to confer together 
regarding the most important of all problems — how 
best to fit our boys and girls for manhood and woman- 
hood? These and many other questions are being con- 
sidered by the Parent-Teacher Associations all over 
the State, and the entire United States. Organize at 
once, see that your circle joins the State Association, 
and the Oregon Congress of Mothers and Parent- 
Teacher State officers will help you by advice, pro- 
grams, and loan-papers. 

For literature or help in organizing, address Par- 
ents Educational Bureau, Court House, Rooms 550-552, 
Portland, Oregon. 



PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS 



PLAN FOR ORGANIZATION 

With the co-operation of the teacher call a meeting 
of mothers at some convenient time in the schoolhouse, 
or an evening meeting for fathers, too. A brief pro- 
gram of music, or some exercises by the children, helps 
to draw the parents out. Let some one call the meeting 
to order, and nominate a temporary chairman, have a 
secretary voted on in the same way to take a record of 
the proceedings. The object of the meeting should be 
stated, discussion held, and a motion made to the effect 
that, ''It is the pleasure of this meeting that a 
Parent-Teacher Association shall be formed." When 
this is adopted, a committee should be appointed to 
prepare a constitution and by-laws, to report at a later 
meeting. If it is desired to effect a permanent organ- 
ization at the one meeting, a recess may be taken, to 
allow of the committee's preparing its report. On 
calling to order again, the same officers serve as before. 
The secretary reads the minutes of the previous meet- 
ing, they are approved; next the Committee on Con- 
stitution reports. This is followed by a motion to 
adopt the Constitution as read. It is read, article by 
article, any article may be amended by vote, and then 
the amended Constitution is read and adopted by vote. 
In a similar manner the by-laws are adopted. Per- 
manent officers are then elected according to the 
constitution, and as each is elected she takes the place 
of the temporary one. When all are elected, • the 
organization is complete. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR ORGANIZING 



CONSTITUTION 

Suggested by Oregon Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher 

Associations. 

ARTICLE I— NAME. 

The name of this organization shall be the Parent- 
Teacher Association of the School, and it shall 

be affiliated with the State and National Congress of 
Mothers. 

ARTICLE II— OBJECT. 

The object of this Association shall be to foster 
a closer sympathy and co-operation between the home 
and the school, to increase the efficiency of both, and 
to further in every way the interests of the Oregon 

Public Schools in general, and the School in 

particular. 

ARTICLE III— MEMBERSHIP. 

Membership shall be open to teachers and patrons 

of the — School, or any adult of the community, 

upon payment of dues as hereinafter provided. 

ARTICLE IV— OFFICERS. 

The officers of this Association shall be a Presi- 
dent, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, who 
shall perform the duties usually required of such offi- 
cers in similar societies. These officers, together with 
the principal of the school and the chairmen of stand- 
ing committees shall constitute the Executive Board 
of the Association. 

ARTICLE V— ELECTION OF OFFICERS. 

These officers shall be nominated by committee or 
from the floor, elected in May and installed in June. 



PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS 



ARTICLE VI— DUES. 

Members shall pay cents annually as dues, 

ten cents per capita to be paid to the Treasurer of 
the Oregon Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher 
Associations for State and National dues. 

ARTICLE VII— QUORUM. 

members shall constitute a quorum for the 

transaction of business. 

ARTICLE VIII— COMMITTEES. 



Committees shall be appointed by the President, 
with the aproval of the Executive Board, as occasion 
shall require. 

ARTICLE IX— TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING. 

Meetings shall be held monthly at a convenient time, 
and shall be held preferably in the school building. 

ARTICLE X— AMENDMENTS. 

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds 
vote of the members present at any regular meeting, 
provided the proposed amendment shall have been sub- 
mitted in writing at the previous meeting. 

NOTE, — This Constitution is only suggestive, to be modi- 
fied according to tlie needs of each, circle. 

Under Article VIII the following committees are suggested: 

Program Cornmittee. 

Membership Committee. 

Kindergarten Committee (of school girls to care for chil- 
dren during meeting). 



SUGGESTIONS FOR ORGANIZING 



SUGGESTIONS FOR PROGRAMS 
For Parent-Teacher Associations in Rural Schools 



[. Sanitation in School and Home. 

Cleanliness as preventative of disease. 
Clean Schoolhouse and grounds. 
Pure food and clean milk. 
Fighting the house-fly. 
Outbuildings and their care. 

[I. Co-operation of Home and School. 

In forming ideals of life. 

In discipline. 

Home credits. 

Practical problems. (See pp. 9 and 10, Uni- 
versity of Oregon Topics for Parent- 
Teacher Association.) 

[II. Literature of Children. 

Mother Goose. 
Value of fairy-tales. 
Newspapers and funny pictures. 
Children's classics. 
Reading aloud in the home. 

[V. Schools as Social Centers. 

Boys' and girls' entertainments. 

Social life of fathers and mothers. 

Can. we co-operate with granges and other 

societies ? 
Discussion of political and social questions. 

V. Physical Welfare of Child. 

Cleanliness of body and neatness of dress. 
Kind of food necessary for growing children. 
Cheerfulness of mind. 
Causes of irritability. 
Care of teeth. 



PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS 11 



VI. School Lunches. 

What is necessary for the paper sack? (See 
Bulletin published by Oregon Agricultural 
College, sent free upon request.) 

Is hot soup practical for rural schools? 

VII. School Gardens. 

On school ground or at home. 
What shall be raised? 
Record kept of yield, fairs, etc. 

VIII. Domestic Science and Domestic Art. 

In connection with school lunch and home 
credits. Can rural schools have sewing 
machine and work bench ? Home mending 

and darning. 

IX. Hygiene (Sex). 

Shall instruction be by parents or teachers? 
Value of study and adolesence. 

X. School Exhibitions. 

Spelling-bee and recitations or examples of 
home industrial work, garden products, 
etc. 

Social value. 

Chicken shows, flower shows, etc. 

XI. Industrial Clubs and Contests for Oregon Boys 

and Girls. 

Other topics for graded schools may be found in 
''Topics for Parent-Teacher Meetings," published by 
the Extension Division of the University of Oregon. 



BOOKS AND REFERENCES | 

Books, pamphlets and periodical articles for these ^i^ 
programs will be loaned free of charge by the Oregon 'i 
State Library, Salem. Borrowers pay postage or^„ 
express both ways. These books will also be included 'jj 
with the traveling libraries sent to villages and rural | 

communities. i 

♦'i 

The Oregon Congress of Mothers urges the schools % 
of the State to study the Portland School Survey and ! 
will furnish an outline of the same upon request to their ;: 
headquarters, 550 Court House, Portland. Copies of ij 
the Portland School Survey may be obtained from the f: 
Child Labor Commission, 250 V2 Third Street, Port- J 
land, for eight cents postage. v 



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